Legionnaires 4-0 in softball league play after start of second round

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

The second round of Patriot League play for Bonsall High School’s softball team began April 29, and the 33-0 win over King-Chavez Academy gave Bonsall a 4-0 league record along with a 7-3 overall season mark.

“We’re doing really well right now,” said Bonsall coach Emily Casillas.

Bonsall’s four league victories were by a combined score of 94-5. The Legionnaires won all six of their April games including two non-league matchups with Mountain Empire.

“We’re excited about this win streak we’re on right now. We’re hoping to keep it up,” Casillas said.

The Legionnaires actually had a win removed from their season record. Bonsall was supposed to travel to Warner Springs for a March 10 game against Warner, but the Wildcats’ field problems resulted in an agreement that the Legionnaires would receive a forfeit win. Warner ended up not having softball for 2022, so the forfeit win was removed and the scheduled game is not part of Bonsall’s record.

Bonsall, King-Chavez, Ocean View Christian, and Chula Vista Learning Community Charter comprise this year’s Patriot League for softball. King-Chavez has no suitable field, so both the April 7 league game and the April 29 league contest were played at the Pala Sports Complex where Bonsall home games are held.

The April 7 game was a 14-0 Bonsall victory. “We played really well,” Casillas said. The game was called after two innings. “Their girls were getting tired,” Casillas said. The day’s heat contributed to that fatigue. “It was like a hundred degrees that day,” Casillas said.

After returning from Spring Break, the Legionnaires made the trip to Pine Valley for an April 20 game at Mountain Empire. The Legionnaires scored four times in the first and once in the top of the third for a 5-0 lead. Seven Redhawks runs in the bottom of the third gave Mountain Empire a 7-5 advantage, but Bonsall scored eight times in the top of the fourth and thrice in the top of the sixth. Mountain Empire scored once in the bottom of the sixth. Bonsall’s final run was in the top of the seventh. Mountain Empire scored five times in the bottom of the seventh, but that wasn’t enough to stave off Bonsall’s 17-13 victory.

Ocean View Christian is in the Palm City area of San Diego, which is south of Chula Vista. The Legionnaires had an April 21 game at Ocean View Christian and prevailed by a 22-0 margin.

Mountain Empire made the trip to Pala for an April 25 contest. The Legionnaires were on the preferred end of the 24-23 final score.

Bonsall’s April 26 home game against Chula Vista Learning Community Center had a 25-5 result in the Legionnaires’ favor. The April 29 game with King-Chavez Academy was called after four innings. “The girls were swinging the bat. They were battling out there. They really were showing some heart out there,” Casillas said.

All four of Bonsall’s shutouts, including the March 17 non-league victory at home against Borrego Springs, have involved starts by freshman Cali Sauileone. Hanna Smith relieved in one of the games which lasted more than two innings and Rebeca Glover was the second pitcher in the April 29 shutout against King-Chavez.

“Excited about the progress that the girls have made,” Casillas said.

“They’re starting to learn the game. They’re having a lot more fun doing it,” Casillas said. “We’re not making as many mistakes.”

If a league has at least four teams, the league champion is guaranteed a CIF playoff home game, so the Legionnaires may conclude their season in the CIF Division V playoffs rather than May 13 at Chula Vista Learning Community Charter.

“I seriously couldn’t be more proud. I wasn’t expecting that going into our opening season ever at Bonsall High School,” Casillas said. “I am looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Casillas expressed appreciation for the support the team has received from the school and the community. “It means everything to the girls,” she said.